KU basketball Class of 2001 to ‘leave together’

Five seniors -- Simien, Langford, Miles, Lee, Hawkins -- excited to all be graduating in four years

Wayne Simien stood in front of about 80 grade-school and high-school students — approximately 160 eyes transfixed on the 6-foot-9, 250-pound role model’s face.

“Believe it or not, everyone does get older,” the 22-year-old Kansas University senior basketball player told an attentive audience during a recent engagement in Kansas City, Mo.

“You will not be able to succeed in sports all your life. When it’s over, what do you have to fall back on? I have my education to fall back on. It’s very, very important to me.”

That education also is very important to four of Simien’s closest friends — KU basketball teammates Keith Langford, Michael Lee, Aaron Miles and Jeff Hawkins. As a group, they’ll walk with former Jayhawk Bryant Nash down Campanile Hill during Sunday’s commencement exercises.

All five members of KU’s recruiting Class of 2001 will graduate in the standard four years.

‘Five-for-five’

“One of the plans coming in together was that we’d all leave together. Five-for-five. We all graduate (on time),” Simien said. “It’s the best feeling. We are students first. We represent Kansas academically as well as athletically, and to graduate with the guys we came in with means a lot.”

Hawkins, a Kansas Citian who red-shirted his rookie season, will graduate Sunday, but will be sticking around for a fifth year to complete his hoops eligibility while taking grad-school classes.

Hawkins and Miles earned degrees in communications, Lee in criminal justice, Simien in sociology and Langford in journalism. Nash, who last played at KU during the 2003-04 season, majored in communications.

“This is great. We came in together. We grew a close bond with each other. For us to be able to graduate on time with each other is very special,” said Miles, like Lee, a native of Portland, Ore.

1988 NCAA champ to finally graduate

Added Miles: “I’m definitely proud of getting it done in four years, but the important thing is to graduate, no matter how long it takes.”

The five have chatted among themselves about how remarkable a feat it is to graduate in four years.

“Four or five weeks ago, I went to the advisory board with Keith to square away graduation, how you want your name spelled on your diploma,” Lee said, smiling. “We were dancing in the hallway waving our papers.”

Hemenway impressed

The man who signs the diplomas — Chancellor Robert Hemenway — said he not only is proud of the graduates playing in two Final Fours, one Elite Eight and being part of three conference titles, but also the fact they excelled in basketball while steadily progressing toward degrees.

“These students graduating makes a strong statement about them, the KU basketball program and the KU academic support staff,” Hemenway said. “It demonstrates that the priorities are right. It demonstrates that these are young men of great character.”

Four former KU players walked down the hill in 2002 (Jeff Boschee, Brett Ballard, Lewis Harrison, Chris Zerbe) and four in 2000 (Terry Nooner, Nick Bradford, Ashante Johnson, Chris Martin), but six is the most in recent memory.

The question remains: How did the seniors achieve so much so quickly academically?

“Going to summer school every summer and taking a heavy load in early fall,” Simien said. “It’s definitely been strategic.”

By strategic, Simien meant the KU athletic department’s student-support system played a role in their metriculation.

“It is no small task for any student to graduate in four years,” said Paul Buskirk, KU’s associate AD for student support. “For these guys to do it with pressures on the court is phenomenal.”

Early start imperative

Buskirk stresses the importance of an early start. Incoming freshmen now are allowed to have their room, board and tuition paid the summer before they start their freshman season as part of the NCAA’s “Bridge Program.”

“Summer school every year is an absolute,” Buskirk said. “You can’t take short cuts, dropping classes. You’ll pay for it later. It takes focus early on.”

KU coach Bill Self, who did not recruit any of the graduating players, marvels at their accomplishments.

“These guys are first-class,” Self said. “They will be remembered as first-class on and off the court.”

None of the graduates are planning to put their degrees to use right away. This year’s seniors are planning to give pro basketball a try. Lee likely will test the waters in France, while the others are hoping for a shot at the NBA.

Degrees comforting

Yet, the fact they have their degrees is comforting.

“One of the dreams I’m most excited to fulfill is my parents wanted me to finish school and graduate school,” Simien said. “To be the first in my family to do that is a great honor. It’s a great honor to achieve.”

But not only for his parents.

“It’s the next big step for me,” Simien said, grinning. “I’m outta here.”